Sunday, June 25, 2006

With just an album with their name, and no mention of their identity, Elektriktus are a mysterious group that only released an LP on the PDU label in 1976. The LP was recorded in Italy, but there's no proof that the group was really from Italy.
The album, called Electronic mind waves, includes eight synthesizer-led compositions that show a great influence from the german cosmic music; in fact this is one of the most krautrock-inspired albums from Italy, and not unlike some of the early works by Roberto Cacciapaglia. For this reason it's not a surprise that it appeared on PDU, as this record company distributed in Italy most of the production of the german Kosmische Kuriere and Ohr labels.
Musically speaking the album will appeal to the keyboards fans, though some interesting variations can be heard in some tracks, as an upright bass part in First wave. ItalianProg

Often overlooked due to its much more well-known symphonic cousins, the electronic artist known as Elektriktus was a virtual iconoclast in mid 70s Italy, perhaps only approached by Roberto Cacciapaglia at the time. Finding more in common with Conrad Schnitzler than Klaus Schulze, Electronic Mind Waves sends shimmering waves of synthesizer patterns forward through a journey that is plotted out by flying, kicking off the voyage in "Frequent Departure Flying at Day-Break." Some interesting things begin happening when stand-up bass begins improvising on "First Wave." However, while Schnitzler's music was often formless, Elektriktus gets the sequencers going pretty early on, and there is usually a sense of patterning going on throughout. The synths often shimmer in the background, and as the album progresses, it seems to grow quieter and more meditative. While thematically Elektriktus seems to have set up a conceptual motion, the music seems to sort of meander by the end of the album. Overall, a good piece that, perhaps, lacks a bit of distinction. Mike McLatchey/Gnosis 2000

Friday, June 16, 2006

When Moulty, The Barbarians drummer left the band, the remaining members (Fieldings, Causi and Benson) moved from Boston to San Francisco and with the addition of fellow Bostonian Jeff Morris and Molcahy and O'Connor formed Black Pearl in 1967.
The bands three guitar line-up created one of the first heavy psyche groups, with strong R&B roots. Their first album, produced by Lee Kiefer and Richard Moore, contained nine short tracks, with titles like Crazy Chicken, White Devil and Mr. Soul Satisfaction. It's cover was designed by Eve Babitz.
The second album was recorded live at the Fillmore West in September 1968 and contained an eleven minute version of James Brown's Cold Sweat.
Bernie Fieldings also guested on Fusion's Border Town album.
Compilation appearances include: Forget It on Nuggets, Vol. 6 (LP).
(Stephane Rebeschini/Max Waller) Fuzz, Acid & Flowers

Thursday, June 15, 2006

The excellent Greek folk-traditional album with notable orches tration and instrumen tation, the first by Christo doulous Halaris was "Tropikos Tis Parthenou (i.e. Tropic of Virgin)" (EMI COLUMBIA SCXG 100-r3) with great singer Nikos Xylouris. Also all his later 70's albums including his best, the 1975 LP "Drosoulites (i.e. Day Break Riders)" (EMI 2J062 72181-R2) are intense original eastern folk/prog gems. Taken from "A Guide To The Greek Pop & Rock Music 1965-1990"

Monday, June 12, 2006

Kolinda plays complex folk music with diverse instru mentation and with medieval and Eastern influences. They lived in France for a time, and were produced by Hughes de Courson of the French folk group Malicorne. Kolinda disbanded in 1979, only to reform five years later.

After playing as a group for 11 out of the past 16 years, with 7 albums under their belts, Kolinda is still relatively unknown in their native Hungary and virtually unheard of in North America.
"They're one of the most interesting European groups that I've heard," says Gary Cristall, organizer of the Vancouver Folkfestival, "but they do it in a different way. Even though they were doing traditional stuff, it had a different edge to it. They've never been looked on very favorably in Hungary. They were always a little too far outside."Kolinda's reputation for being outside comes from the way they mix elements of Hungarian and Balkan folksongs with a large amount of jazz, a bit of classical, and even a few notes of rock. Their music manages to melt the passion and urgency of gypsy music with the cerebral with of cool jazz, an exciting combination that makes them one of the most successful hybrids of folk and contemporary music around today.
Kolinda first formed in 1974, and in the next four years they released three albums on the French Hexagone label. But in 1978 the group disbanded and the members went on to other projects.
In 1984, the group got together for a reunion tour. They've been playing together ever since, and have recorded four albums. But even with their diverse sources of inspiration , Kolinda never sounds contrived.
While other "ethnofusion" bands often seem like a patchwork of styles and cultures - contemporary instrumentation precariously and arbitrarily tacked on to ethnic folk music - Kolinda always sounds inevitable. They weave all their various influences together so seamlessly that it somehow seems as if it could be no other way. Their sounds is a solid, unified whole that blends fervor and freshness without a hint of artifice.

Kick-butt underrated Hungarian band. They probably don't like to call themselves progressive but they're just as progressive as most other 70's output. They're also very innovative. Masterminded by their founder Peter Dabasi, Kolinda invites you to partake in their sometimes insane, sometimes beautiful, sometimes hypnotic world of Hungarian folk and gypsy prog which includes a plethoria of exotic instruments, bombastic (at times) female/male vocal harmonizing, sometimes beautiful vocal harmonizing, etc. I cannot say enough good things about Kolinda. Everyone talks about Solaris and/or After Crying being the two primary bands from Hungary. Truthfully, Kolinda is every bit as good if not better.
They've been around since 1975 and have released a bunch of albums. Their 2nd and 3rd albums (1514) are probably their best but (unfortunately) hopelessly out-of-print. Their 2nd was on CD with the French Hexagone label and their 3rd (1514) was never released on CD but God knows they're better than tons of albums out there on CD.
They are still alive and recording even today and their latest Elfelejtett Istenek ("Forgotton Gods") is excellent and very 1970's sounding. -- Betta

French psychedelic rock - did it exist? Yes, but not exactly in abundance, and mainly restricted to singles & EPs (Les Goths, Tac poum Systeme). One of the few exceptions to this is the ultra-rare album by Dickens. These guys were probably well acquainted with the US undeground bands, at least judging from "Ange De Lune", a French adaption of asong recorded by theAmerican group Genesis. Apart from that, the group played their own material, with great guitar and organ driven psych comparable to the heavy LA sound (Iron Butterfly and Doors). Serge Baumer later played in the group Treponem Pal.
Andre Chabloz - vocals
Jean-Claude Tissot - guitars
Jacques Minary - keyboards
Jean-Claude Bertin - bass
Serge Baumer - drums

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Canadian band. This eponymous release was the short-lived Brahman's only LP, which is too bad, because this first effort showed a lot of potential. Most of the songs were written by organist Robbie King (Skylark, Hometown Band, and, much later, Bryan Adams) and drummer Duris Maxwell (in Doucette with King, and later with the Powder Blues Band). Their blend of blues-rock, hard rock, and emerging prog rock often recalls Atomic Rooster & Procol Harum, an analogy sported as much by the style of the music as by King's riveting, rocking abilities at the organ. Singer Victor Stewart's soul sensibilities are a definite plus, especially on the heartfelt "Jonathan" and "You Changed My Life Around," the latter slapping a ballad-type melody over a rock song driven by a mean bass riff played on a Rickenbacker. "Automatic Man" features odd rhythmic patters, a dirty organ riff, and a drum solo episode, but the unsuspected highlight is "She Went Down." Here, Brahman gets one iota shy of impersonating Gentle Giant, thanks to beautiful contrapuntal lines, a harpsichord, shifting time signatures, and Stewart's voice finding a fragility very close to Kerry Minnear's. The naivete found in some of the lyrics ("Build a Tower," "Jonathan") did not age well but, otherwise, this long-unavailable LP is worth seeking out. ~ François Couture, All Music Guide

Thursday, June 08, 2006

This group made a folk-rock album of Irish folk songs, named I Will Go (1975). The album contained 12 such tracks all arranged by the band. It was recorded In October 1973, produced by Fred Christmann and released on the short-lived Highdelberg-based label Happy Bird. Here you can listen to rare live album of the band.

Beyond the Black Crack was the concept of Reverend Dwight Frizzell, a musician, film maker, Doctor of Metaphysics and minister in the Universal Church of Life. It remains a little known classic, and one of the most unique listening experiences in modern experimental music. Recorded between 1974 and 1976 in locations as diverse as factories, the pyramid opposite Harry Truman's grave site as well as more 'conventional' concert settings. Beyond the Black Crack is a dark, dizzying and exhilarating journey through free jazz, electronics and environmental sound, all shattered by Frizzell's radical tape editing. This CD re-release adds further material to the original LP: - "The Wandering Madness of Basilea", a suite from 1977 unheard until now, as well as unreleased material from the Black Crack sessions.
Beyond the black crack was originally released in mono in an edition of 200 copies by Cavern Custom in 1976 (cat. no. 6104-12), to commemorate the First Annual End of the World Celebration, November 18 1976.
BLACK CRACK AND THE SOLE SURVIVORS are: Rev. Dwight Frizzell - tenor saxophone, clarinet, audio oscillator, chair, trash can, pins, soy beans Mike Roach - clarinet, vocals with laughs, tenor saxophone, dancingKurt Eckhardt - mouth flute, percussion, pins, soy, alteration. Featuring special guests: Rev. Tommy Gomersall - tin cans, piano, vocalsRich - lights and percussionRush Rankin - clarinet, imagistic inspirationRev. Jim Rogers - kazooGary Jeffers - sousaphone, percussionBill Jones - sousaphoneSylvia Thomas - harmonicaRadio Rich Dalton - guitarBill Scanlan - percussion, tape machine; and many others... Source

Spanish quintet from the late 70's which combines violin, flute and keyboards. Their sound, although progressive in nature, is more in the realm of Hard Rock with blues influences but with a peculiar sound thanks to the magical effects of flutes and violins. Their music reminds a harder GREENSLADE or maybe a JETHRO TULL style. Prog Archives

Comprised of Chris Brockway, Jim White, Bob Quinn and Tim Garagon, Pepper Tree was signed by Capitol in 1970. You're My People (1971) featured the Canadian hit "Mr. Pride." Several singles followed in the early '70s, but Pepper Tree never duplicated their early success. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide 70's rock

Monday, June 05, 2006

Rare second album by one of the most legendary underground acoustic folk bands to come out of the UK in this era. Although the band released just two LPs, it achieved cult status and is considered responsible for spawning a whole new genre. Recorded for Transatlantic in 1971, their second LP was (despite the addition of drummer Denis Conlan) much more freeform than the first. While still essentially a folk album, the band's progressive leanings are far more pronounced, dissolving song structure and taking the audience on a wild, semi-improvised journey.

A strikingly accomplished mid-seventies UK folk-rock album in Steeleye Span tradition with beautiful female vocals and wonderfully arranged songs. Includes a wide range of instruments including mandolin, guitar, kazoo, psaltery, accordion and other eclectic instrumentation. Includes band history and a bonus track. Much sought after by collectors of folk rock.

Saturday, June 03, 2006

French guitarist multi instru mentalist, very unique. His albums blend multi- layered acoustic guitars with fiery leads, piano, ethereal female voices, throbbing bass and percussion. His guitar style could be described as early Larry Coryell (acoustic) meets Randy California (electric) with a strong middle-eastern influence. Le Desert Noir is a heavier guitar album which features drums on almost every track, overall very hendrix influenced. With Platock, there is more maturity in his sound, combining delicate acoustic guitars and more piano to his trademark sound, with less reliance on drums. Contemporus attempts to continue in the same vein, but fails to reach the same energy level, except possibly on the sidelong "Contemporus" suite. Start with Platock, which most will agree is his best. First two releases are very rare. Prog Archives

Friday, June 02, 2006

German ndw punk band. Ranola was founded in 1982 (I guess) as a sub-set of the former band 'The body Snatchers', which had split up and of 'EA80', both early Mцnchengladbach punk bands. Though Ranola doesn't exist since many years now, former members of this band from Moenchengladbach, Germany, are still active. Ranola singer Jack and drummer Andreas are in a band called 'rose club', bass player (and vocals on 'Blumen') 'Der Junge' is the singer of both 'EA80' (founded 1979 and still punk) and 'The devil in Miss Jones', here together with Micka, the former Ranola guitarist.Here's some links to these: http://www.ea80.net/http://www.thedevilinmissjones.de/ by the1cure from New Wave Outpost

French jazz rock & fusion group with Branko Miljavic & Marcel Merino : bass, gtr, sax, kbds & drums. Six original tracks, small pressing. One of the most imaginative French jazz rock. A music near to the best Italian jazz rock bands.

Here, at Ezhevika Fields, I'm providing information & listening preview samples of lost albums from the past. My only aim is to promote real art & music for some reasons currently unavailable according to my sources. If you are the artist or label & would like the link to be removed just contact me & it will be done.

I'd like to thank all original uploaders; collectors sharing music giving us the unique possibility to explore the culture. Thank you!